The Welshman admitted the Eagles are in a worse position than when he arrived last month with a full team out to injuries and suspensions.

And with top scorer Marouane Chamakh banned for today’s visit to Villa Park, Pulis will be forced to give the £6m Gayle his first start of his short reign.

Ian Holloway spent big in the summer on the former carpenter who was playing non-league football with Bishop’s Stortford last year. The former boss said Gayle was “our first target” - and compared him to Ian Wright.

But Pulis, who must find a new partner for Cameron Jerome, said: “We have got Gaylie who can play up there - we are a little bit short.

“Gayle has been all right - genuinely there have been no problems. I think it is a very big ask to get a kid who was playing non-league football only a year ago to go and play straight in the Premier League. Such a young lad as well. That is a big, big call.

“He has a role to play. It is difficult because of the position you are in when you are up against it a little bit, to get young players to carry the flag for you, it is very difficult.”

(Image: Action Images)

Palace have scored only 11 goals this season - the lowest in the Premier League. But Pulis said: “I am not worried about that. If we score one goal and the opposition score none, then we get three points.

“It makes no difference to me. The most important thing is that we get back to what we were doing before Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle.”

But with a visit at Manchester City to follow on Saturday, the former Stoke boss admitted: “You are hoping and praying when you have got quite a few long-term injuries that you are not going to pick up anymore injuries

“It is just luck really that has turned against us and if anything, we are in a worse position now than when we walked in.

“I’ve got enough sleepless nights thinking about Villa let alone City. Let’s get that out of the way first.”